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Scapegoating migrants in political speeches is unacceptable, pope says

Wednesday, 19th December 2018

In today’s climate of mistrust, rejection and nationalism, the world urgently needs peacemakers and politicians who protect and lovingly serve others, Pope Francis said in his annual message for the World Day of Peace on 1st January.

“Terror exerted over those who are most vulnerable contributes to the exile of entire populations who seek a place of peace,” he said, and “political addresses that tend to blame every evil on migrants and to deprive the poor of hope are unacceptable.”

Instead, political life can and should be “an outstanding form of charity” when it is exercised with a “basic respect for the life, freedom and dignity of persons,” the pope said.

Holding political office and having political responsibility “constantly challenge those called to the service of their country to make every effort to protect those who live there and to create the conditions for a worthy and just future,” he said.

“One thing is certain: good politics is at the service of peace,” Pope Francis said. “It respects and promotes fundamental human rights, which are at the same time mutual obligations, enabling a bond of trust and gratitude to be forged between present and future generations.”

The pope’s message, which focused on “good politics at the service of peace,” was released on 18th December at a Vatican news conference led by Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Picture: Children play near a house destroyed in an airstrike allegedly carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Sanaa, Yemen. During his World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis said “one out of every six children in our world is affected by the violence of war or its effects.” (CNS photo/Mohamed al-Sayaghi, Reuters).